Pencil pointer



J. E. RIKER PENCIL POINTER Filed March l5a 1946 f. m@ TM U Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 3 Claims.

This invention relates to pencil sharpening devices, and particularly toa device for pointing pencils especially adaptable for use by adraftsmen.

Heretofore, the operation of sharpening or pointing a pencil has beenobjectionable because it required two hands to point the pencil, wastime consuming and usually made it necessary for the draftsman to changehis position or stance to avoid getting the particles of graphite on thedrawing sheets. When long lines were being drawn, such as by the use ofstraightedges or triangles, the sharpening operation usually requiredthe repositioning of the drafting tools before completing the lines. Asa result of all these difficulties, the draftsman tended to sacrificequality of workmanship rather than sharpen and point his pencil as oftenas he should.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved devicefor sharpening or pointing which can be operated by one hand withoutrequiring the draftsman to shift his position or release the draftingtools and which considerably reduces the number of movements andconserves time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pencil pointingdevice which will provide either a conical point or a wedge-shaped pointas desired with a minimum amount of effort. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a novel device of this character which iseconomical to construct and assemble and which may be located in areadily accessible position on the drafting table or other nearbysupport.

More specifically, an important object of this invention is to provide anovel pencil pointing device Which by stroking a pencil in one planewill produce either a wedge-shaped or conical point depending upon howthe pencil is held and manipulated. A feature of the invention is theprovision whereby both faces of a wedge-shaped point may be cut in thesame stroke of the pencil. Another feature of the invention is theprovision of novel means for constraining the pencil as the pointthereof is drawn through the device to a movement in one plane forproducing the proper angle for the sides of a conical point. A further.feature oi the invention is the provision and location of wiping meanswhich enables the draftsman to finish the sharpening stroke by drawingthe point over the wiping substance.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will becomemore fully apparent from the following specication, appended claims andaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a pencil point-L` ing device embodyingthe present invention,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along` line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top view of aV portion of the device showing the manner ofremovingr the coversof the dust collecting receptacle,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional: view through the devicealong line 4 4 of Figure L showing in dotted outline the positionsof thepencils to obtain either a wedge-shaped or conical point,

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectionA view of the device along line 5-5of Figure 1and Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view` of one` end ofthe device along line 6 6 of Figurel 4,

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thedevice is constructed for` removable attachment to the top of; avdrafting. table or nearby support. For this purpose it; is; providedwith a base lil provided at the opposite ends thereof with apertures l2to facilitate attachment. The major portion of the length of the baseintermediate the end sections thereof supports the elongated receptacleof general rec:- tangular formation. Two correspondingly shapedsidewalls l4-l4 extend parallel to one another along the opposite sides ofthe base as shown in Figure 2; Two correspondingly shaped end walls lli-I6 complete the assembly of the receptacle. Each end wall is providedwith an upwardly open-,- ing V cut in which are supported the endslol,"k the; members carrying the pencil point sharpening` means. l

Extending the length of thev receptacle on substantially thelongitudinal median line thereof and in spaced relation to theA sideWalls and they bot-l tom thereof are two members z8 and 20.. Thesemembers extend at an angle to one anotherl to form a V shaped groovev orchannel opening through the top of the device as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.The V cuts in the end walls of the receptacle receive the ends of themembers I8 and 20 and assist in supporting the two members at thedesired angle. The ends of the channel contain corresponding triangularor wedge-shaped blocks 22-22 having the inclined faces thereoflextending at the same angle as the members I8 and 20. These wedges arereceived in the channel with their apexes pointed downwardly toward thebase l0. A bolt member 24v or anyl other Suit;- able securing meansextends vertically through each of these wedges 22-22 and is threadablyengaged inthe base member in the manner-.indicated in Figs, 2 and 4. Anintermediate welll 26 may be provided for supporting the mid-sections ofthe members I8 and 20. The wall 26 is shorter in height than the endWalls and may be generally triangularly shaped as shown in Fig. 5 andprovided with an approximately upwardly opening V-shaped groove forreceiving and supporting the bottom edges of the members I8 and 20.

The two members I8 and 20 are provided with cutting surfaces on theirinside faces which produce the desired point on the pencil when thelatter is pulled or drawn in one or more strokes through the V-shapedchannel between the members. These cutting surfaces are shorter than thelengths of the members and are ar ranged in alternate staggeredrelationship. Any suitable means may be used for forming the cuttingsurfaces. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention twosteel le sections 28 and 30 are employed. Each iile section extends 'fora portion of the length of the channel andthey are arranged in alternatestaggered relation to one another. The inside face of each memberopposite the le carried by the other member is smooth providing a fiatguiding surface. The pencil point as it is drawn through the channel isopposed on one side with a sloping cutting surface and on the other sidewith a smooth inclined surface. In place of the metal les shown, theremay be substituted other types of cutting surfaces such as abrasivestones having the same general shape and relation of the les illustratedherein. It is understood that where the term file is used herein it isapplicable to any suitable cutting surface which will sharpen the pointof a pencil.

Referring speciiically to the illustrated embodiment of the inventionherein, each le section 28 or 30 is constructed with a length equalsubstantially to one half the distance of the channel. One le 28 iscarried on the member I8; the other file 30 is carried on the member 2U.The iirst iile 28 occupies the left half of the channel as viewed inFig. 1, and the other iile 30 occupies the right half of the channel aslviewed on the same figure. The inside face portion of each memberopposite a file section is smooth.

It is preferred that each flle be mounted in its respective member withthe cutting face thereof substantially iiush with the inside face of themember. Where metal file sections are used, as in the'present embodimentof the invention, this is preferably accomplished by cutting a recess inthe inside face of each member of a depth equal l to the size andthickness of the le and embedding the file section therein. This is thecondition illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The cuttingl face of each filewill then extend flush with the: face of the member in which it iscarried.

For best cutting operations, it is preferred tomount each file section28 and 30 in its respective member so that the bottom edge thereofsubstantially meets the plane of the inside surface of the other member.This constrains the inserted end of the pencil in the channel so thatthe extreme end of the point is brought into Contact with the teeth ofthe file section at whatever angle the pencil may be held. The mostdesirable angle for mounting the members I8 and 20 in order to formWedge-shaped and conical points is approximately twelve degrees to thevertical. The angle therefore between each le cutting face and theopposed smooth surface is approximately twentyfour degrees. This, it hasbeen found, is the most satisfactory angle for making either a conicalpoint or a wedge-shaped point.

A narrow opening or slot is provided between the adjacent bottom edgesoi the members I8 and 20 through which the graphite cuttings orparticles removed from the pencil points fall to the bottom of thereceptacle. This is accomplished by chamfering the lower marginalportion of each smooth surface section of the members and also the areabelow each iile section. A chamfered or beveled marginal portion on thesmooth area of the member I8 is indicated at 32 in Figure 4. A chamferedportion below the le on the same member is indicated at 34. The member28 is similarly chamfered and when the two members are assembledtogether they cooperate to form a narrow slot between the lower adjacentedges of these members as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6. This slot isreferred to by reference numeral 38. The slot opens into the base of thereceptacle and the graphite cuttings or dust fall therethrough to thebottom I0.

To prevent the dust from escaping from the :receptacle until it isdesired to empty the same, removable closure members are provided forsealing the upper openings of the receptacle which `extend along theopposite sides of the members I8 and 20. As shown, two such closuremembers or covers 38 and 40 are provided which have a .slidableinteriitting engagement with the side walls III- I4 and the outer facesof the two mem- 'bers I8 and 20. These cover members are capable ofbeing slid from either end of the device in 4the manner illustrated inFigure 3. Any other .suitable form of closure means may be used ifIdesired.

Wiping means is provided for cleaning the point -of the pencil at thecompletion of the sharpening operation. This wiping means may be anyyieldable substance such as cotton batting. It is 'preferably located inone end of the channel or 'trough between the members I8 and 20, and'preferably at that end at which the draftsman usually completes hispointing stroke. As shown, :a wedge-shaped piece of cotton batting 42 orother `suitable material is located at the right hand end `of thechannel as viewed in Figures l and 4.

Two diierent types of pencil points may be :formed by this device. Thewedge-shaped type is made by inserting the pointed end of the pencil atone end of the channel and holding it in upright vertical position asshown in dotted outline at 44 in Figure 4. The pencil is drawn throughthe 'channel to the other end thereof while maintaining it in verticalposition and without rotation. One or more strokes of this character maybe made. At the completion of the last stroke the point may be drawnover the cotton batting 'wiping it clean.

To make a conical point, the point of the jpencil is introduced into oneend of the channel .at an angle preferably of approximately 45. It .isdrawn through the channel at this angle and .simultaneously spun orrotated by the fingers `of the hand. A pencil pulled through the chan--nel in this manner is indicated in dotted outline at 46 in Figure 4. Atthe nish of the last lstroke, the point may be wiped clean by drawing'the point across the cotton batting. In making either the wedge-shapedor conical point the -depth at which the pencil enters the channel maybe controlled by the ngers of the draftsfinan. If the pencil is held inthe normal posi- @tion between the rst and second fingers of the hand itmay be drawn through the channel by a back hand motion and the depthcontrolled by the first joint of the second or middle nger.

The device is also c-apable of pointing all types of draftsmenscompasses. When pointing smaller types of these instruments, it may benecessary to remove one of the covers 38 or 40. This will provideclearance for the other leg of the compass to move through the openingin the top of the receptacle left by the cover.

All the parts of the device, with the exception of the file surfaces andthe attaching elements such as the bolts, are preferably made of plasticmaterial.

What I claim is:

1. A device for pointing pencils comprising, in combination, anelongated opened top receptacle, a pair of members substantially thesame length as the receptacle, means mounting said members in the openedtop of the receptacle in spaced relation to the bottom thereof and withthe members disposed at an acute angle to one another to form anupwardly opening V- shaped channel along which the pointed end of apencil may be drawn, a pencil pointing file on the inside surface of oneof said members and extending for substantially one-half the distance ofthe channel, a second pencil pointing ile on the inside surface of theother member and extending for substantially the remaining half of thechannel in alternate staggered relationship to the first mentioned file,the inside surface portion of each member opposite the file of the othermember being smooth to provide a flat guiding surface for the pencilpoints drawn therethrough, and the lower ends of said members beingshaped to provide an elongated slot in the base of the channel throughwhich the particles removed from the pencil points fall to the bottom ofthe receptacle therebelow.

2. A device for pointing pencils comprising, in combination, anelongated opened top receptacle including side walls, end walls, and abottom, a pair of members of substantially the same length as the sidewalls of the receptacle, means mounting said members longitudinally insaid receptacle in spaced relation to the side walls and the bottomthereof and at an acute angle to one another to form an upwardly openingV-shaped channel through which the point of a pencil may be drawn, apencil pointing ille mounted on the inside surface of one of saidmembers in substantially flush relationship with said last surface andextending from one end of the channel to the middle thereof, a pencilpointing le mounted on the inside surface of the other member insubstantially flush relationship to said last surface and extending fromthe middle 0f the channel to the opposite end thereof, the insidesurface portions of each member opposite to the le of the other memberbeing smooth to provide a at guiding surface for the pencil point drawntherethrough, means forming a narrow slit between the bottom adjacentedges of said members through which particles removed from the pencilpoint fall to the bottom of the receptacle, a closure member coveringthe space between the upper edge of each member and the adjacent sidewall of the receptacle, and means providing endwise slidable movement ofeach closure member to expose the space covered by the same. i

3. A device for pointing pencils comprising, in combination, anelongated receptacle of substantially rectangular formation including abottom and upright parallel side walls and parallel end Walls, a pair ofmembers of non-metallic material of substantially the same length assaid receptacle, a metal le section embedded on the face of one memberand extending for substantially one-half the length thereof, a similarmetal file section embedded on the face of the other member andextending for substantially one-half the length thereof, meanssupporting said members on the end walls of said receptacle so that themembers extend on the longitudinal median line of the receptacle and atan acute angle to one another to form an upwardly opening V-shapedchannel extending the length of the receptacle, said means supportingthe members in spaced relationship to the side walls and the bottom ofthe receptacle and with the file sections on the inside of the channelin alternate staggered relation to one another, the portion of theinside face of each member opposite to the file section of the othermember being smooth to provide a flat guiding surface, the lower edge ofeach smooth portion of each member being chamfered to form a narrow slotalong the base of the channel through which the particles removed fromthe pencil points fall to the bottom of the receptacle, an open endedhorizontal guiding track formed by the upper edge of each member and theupper edge of the adjacent side Wall, and a closure element slidablytting each track and capable of endwise slidable movement therein 'toexpose the space normally covered thereby.

JOHN E. RIKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,238,340 Poe Apr. 15, 1941FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 190,181 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1937

